DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 431/09
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
DEFENCE REVIEW OF OPERATIONAL
INCIDENT IN AFGHANISTAN CONCLUDES
Defence has concluded a review into an operational incident in Afghanistan on 9
November 2009, where a young Afghan man was found with a gunshot wound to his
lower left leg.
Australian troops working alongside the Afghan National Army were fired on by
insurgents who were occupying higher ground in the vicinity of Shah Wali Kot, in
southern Afghanistan. The Australian forces engaged the insurgent firing positions in
a controlled and discriminate manner, in accordance with Australian and International
Security Assistance Force rules of engagement. There was no use of close air support
or indirect fire (mortars) by Australian troops.
Approximately twenty minutes after the contact, the Afghan male was found by
Australian troops with a single gun-shot wound to his lower left leg. Immediate first
aid was applied by Australian forces before the man was aero-medically evacuated to
the Dutch military hospital at Tarin Kowt, where he received surgery on the leg
wound.
Following an interview with the man, the reviewing officer was not able to determine
the origin of the round. The bullet passed through the Afghan’s leg and was not able
to be recovered for forensic analysis.
The Afghan male in question has been released from hospital to return home and is
expected to make a full recovery. Follow-on medical treatment will be available to
him, if requested.
The review found that it was unlikely, but not impossible, that the wound was caused
by Australian troops. The review concluded that the terrain and manner of the
engagement suggested it was more likely that the injury was the result of insurgent
fire.
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
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